Bolt, Felix win IAAF 'Athlete of the Year' awards

Sydney, Nov. 25 (ANI): Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Allyson Felix have been named the male and female athlete of the year respectively by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) at a ceremony in Barcelona.

Bolt, who retained his 100 and 200 metre titles in London in August, is the first man to win the award four times, while American Felix was honored for her gold medal in the 200 meters, News.com.au reports.

According to the report, she was also part of the gold-winning US 4x100 metre relay team, which was awarded female performance of the year after smashing the world record set in 1985 by East Germany.

Kenyan David Rudisha won male performance of the year for his dazzling run in the 800 metres in London, when he also set a world record, the report said.

Trinidad and Tobago's javelin gold medalist Keshorn Walcott and sprinter Anthonique Strachan of Bahamas were named as the rising stars of 2012, the report added. (ANI)